Nyack Grad Billy Sullivan Earns All-Rookie Honors At SCSU

NEW HAVEN, CT —In an interview on social media before the 2021 baseball season, Nyack High grad and current Southern Connecticut State outfielder/catcher Billy Sullivan was asked for his favorite inspirational quote.

"Being underestimated is one of the biggest competitive advantages you can have," Sullivan said.

If the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Sullivan was underestimated before the just-completed season, it's unlikely he will be again. Despite playing in just 10 of the Owls' 18 games, the Valley Cottage-native was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team.

"Being named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team was a highlight for me this past year," Sullivan said. "The conference is extremely deep with talent, so to be recognized by the NE10 was an honor I will not forget."

Sullivan had played four games as a freshman in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the pandemic. But he showed few signs of rustiness this spring, hitting .382 (13-for-34) with three doubles, 10 RBIs, eight runs scored and two stolen bases for the Owls, who finished 8-10 overall, 7-9 in the conference.

Sullivan's biggest game was on April 23 when SCSU, which plays at the Division II level, defeated New Haven 14-6. In that contest, Sullivan went 4-for-6, with three doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored.

"After my freshman year, I put a lot of emphasis on slowing the game down and being the best version of myself," Sullivan said. "As soon as I took that approach, I started to see results in-game."

On April 29, the Genesee Rapids of the New York Collegiate Baseball League announced they had added Sullivan for the upcoming summer season.

Sullivan is one of several former Nyack Redhawks baseball players currently plying their trade at the next level.

At Division II Caldwell (N.J.) University, Nyack grad Michael Hess earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Second-Team All-Conference honors. The righty, who is playing this season as a grad student, went 2-2 with two saves in 11 appearances. Hess threw 25.2 innings and struck out 46 for the Cougars, who went 15-15.

Another Nyack grad, Jack Anderson, also was on the Caldwell team. Also a graduate student, Anderson went 1-4 in seven starts.

At Division III Oswego State, Nyack grad Ryan Weiss is having a fine season for the Lakers, who are 23-3 heading into this weekend's SUNYAC Baseball Championship. Weiss, a senior infielder, is hitting .358, with three home runs and 32 RBIs.

Among the other former Nyack players competing in college are: Gabe Mounkhall, a sophomore pitcher at Plattsburgh State, Zach Stone a senior pitcher at York College, Christian Schwarz, a sophomore outfielder/catcher at Muhlenberg and Rockland Community College outfielder Michael Pavelchak, who has committed to play at Post University.